|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 17, 2015 19:44:32 GMT
Dateline: Rooftop, Teusday, 19:37. Hells BELLS. I'm on tenterhooks here.... the wind has REALLY picked up. I was skeptical about it... but the forecasters got it right. We are getting some serious gusts on the roofgarden ! The shopkeepers outdoor signs - plus his wheelybin - has already tipped over. (and that wheelybin was NOT empty...). 10 minutes ago I heard this "rip...flapflap rattlerattleCRASH" noise, and thought "thats it.. thats my auxilary greenhouse gone." It wasn't... it was just a few garden chairs sliding around; but it REALLY got .. if you'll pardon the pun... my wind up. So far, the Polytunnel seems rock-solid; I was nervously hovering at the front door when some gusts hit, and it didn't move an inch. I'm crossing my fingers... and everything else I've got at least two of.. and that is NOT comfortable, let me tell you !  |
|
|
|
Post by daitheplant on Nov 17, 2015 20:20:34 GMT
You really are an expert roof gardener roofgardener. Have you ever thought of moving to somewhere convenient to a plot of land? Cherry, if he did that, he would no longer be the "Roofgardener"  Roofus, if you are crossing everything I bet your eyes are watering.    |
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Nov 17, 2015 21:17:15 GMT
I'd be worried about any 'slightly tiddly' locals walking past Roofy, looking up & wondering why a huge purple U.F.O. was taking off from the shop roof! |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 17, 2015 21:21:57 GMT
You really are an expert roof gardener roofgardener. Have you ever thought of moving to somewhere convenient to a plot of land? Cherry, if he did that, he would no longer be the "Roofgardener" Roofus, if you are crossing everything I bet your eyes are watering. They probably are. It's difficult to tell when they are crossed  |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 17, 2015 21:24:48 GMT
I'd be worried about any 'slightly tiddly' locals walking past Roofy, looking up & wondering why a huge purple U.F.O. was taking off from the shop roof! , I'd be slightly worried about any sober lawyers issuing personal injury suites for any tiddly locals concussed by a Purple Polytunnel  Mind you... it would make an interesting court case... " and precisely WHAT colour was the object that hit you ? ... " |
|
|
|
Post by daitheplant on Nov 17, 2015 21:30:43 GMT
You could always plead insanity. |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 17, 2015 21:45:24 GMT
Insanity ? Well, thats taken for granted, daitheplant. After all, I'm a Gardener ! (albeit a neophyte) |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 18, 2015 18:48:29 GMT
Well, everything survived. One of the engineers at work estimated the gusts at almost 80MPH, making it a force 10 storm ! It FELT a lot stronger than the gales back in January that blew my Polytunnel away. But THIS time ... everything survived. No damage, so far as I can tell. One garden bin blown over.. a few chairs moved around .. Oh, and two Thyme plants blown over, but they seem to have survived. (not even much spilled soil). A tentative celebration is called for !  |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 22, 2015 19:14:47 GMT
It was a good weekend. The weather forecast was grim for Saturday, but it dawned a sunny - albeit cold - day. Lots of clearing work at my Sister's garden; trying to hack through the undergrowth in the Upper Orchards, and clearing the right-hand path. The idea was to try and fill the garden waste bin, as we only have a couple of collections left, and then it all stops for a couple of months. Back on the roofgarden: lots of tidying up, uprooting dead plants, and trying to recover the soil. I took down two of my runner beans, and re-used the canes to support the Bubblewrap insulation in the PT. I had a brainwave: evict the Limp Onions from the two propagators, power them up, and use them to dry off the wet (soaking wet in some cases) soil from the plantpots, prior to mixing it with a little compost, and re-using it. If this works, it will REALLY speed things up ! (Soil reclamation becomes a bit of an obsession for Roofgardeners in winter ! ) I also re-potted two of my Thyme plants into bigger pots, and chopped down one of my Polytunnel tomato plants. It WAS slowly producing some (small) tomato's, but I've run out of time. I need the space for onions ! The remaining two have got a couple of weeks to show signs of ripening, and then they are going as well ! Maybe I can ripen the tomatoes on my windowsill ? The greenhouses and storage bins are REALLY coming into their own now. The roofgarden has NEVER been so organised (and tidy) in November. Previously I had just given up on it, and let it all rot in place untill March. |
|
|
|
Post by daitheplant on Nov 22, 2015 19:25:08 GMT
Gardeners garden 12 months of the year Roofus, as you are finding out.  |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 22, 2015 19:51:31 GMT
Well, they certainly should do daitheplant. THIS particular Gardener has been somewhat remiss in that regard in previous winter months. 2015 is looking to be a unique year ! |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 23, 2015 18:55:24 GMT
Well, a quick trip into the Tunnel of Plants thisevening... Firstly, as Moonlight suggested, I tried harvesting some Dahlia seeds from my Dhalia plant. Well... OBVIOUSLY from my Daliah plant... I mean... it would be silly to try and get Dalhia seeds from my runner bean plant. And can SOMEBODY please stop the 'h' from sliding around in the word 'Dahlia' ? Where was I ? Oh yes... some of the seed pods where all blackened and mushy, but a couple actually had seeds ... even one of the mushy ones. I've got them drying in some tissue paper at the moment, and tomorrow I'll put them in one of my miniature Kilner jars. I reckon I've got at least 25 ! Despite the best efforts of my Grow Light, and some feeding over the weekend, my two tomato plants seem to be dying. The tomatoes themselves seem to be healthy (and quite big), albeit stubbornly green, but the leaves have all shriveled up. I'm guessing this is down to the cold ? (despite my bubblewrap insulation, there was ice on the inside of the Tunnel on Sunday, and the thermometer is showing a minimum temp. of -1 degrees.) I'll see what they're like on the Weekend, but if there is no improvement, I'll pluck the 'toms and try and ripen them on my windowsill. Unless you folk have any suggestions ? The soil-dryer seems to be working, which cheered me up. It also seems to have dried up some empty plantpots and troughs, which is good. There has been some minor progress with the Onions . No photographs I'm afraid ... must try harder ! |
|
|
|
Post by daitheplant on Nov 23, 2015 20:00:07 GMT
Roofus, harvest the Tomatoes and ripen them off indoors, otherwise you are going to lose them.
|
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 23, 2015 21:18:57 GMT
I fear you are correct, daitheplant. I may do this tomorrow ! |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Nov 25, 2015 16:28:32 GMT
 I have done as daitheplant suggested. It was a pretty good crop as well, albeit bright green ! According to Gerald , I should put a ripe apple in the bowl to encourage the toms' to ripen. Hmmm..... <pats pockets> ... I never seem to have a ripe apple around when I need one ! MOST vexing ! |
|
Roofus, if you are crossing everything I bet your eyes are watering. 
